Blind test listening results by professional audio engineers in the Los Angeles area

[Erici]

Interesting test results from the Hollywood Sapphire Group of audio engineers. How good are the golden ears?

Audio Listening Test That Fooled the Hollywood Sapphire Group

Some of the most highly trained audiophiles in the industry were asked to do a blind “A-B” listening comparison test of two audio circuits. Were they able to hear a difference, or were they fooled?

www.audioholics.com

 

[RDoc]

Clearly the LED's loaded the circuit differently. Red LEDs are going to sap the low frequencies whereas the blues will cut back the highs. The red circuit will have significantly less gravitas.

 

[fpitas]

I think we all know that LEDs ruin the sound, no matter what color they are.

 

[Erici]

I think we all know that LEDs ruin the sound, no matter what color they are.

Everyone is subject to expectation bias. Everyone!

 

[fpitas]

Everyone is subject to expectation bias. Everyone!

Except our trolls. And they're only here to keep us honest.

 

[Anton D]

Does anybody remember the Wharfedale speakers that sounded differently depending on their color?

I did a quick link search but came up empty.

Same model speakers, with perception of sound being different by color. I think "blue' won!

 

[fpitas]

Does anybody remember the Wharfedale speakers that sounded differently depending on their color?

I did a quick link search but came up empty.

Same model speakers, with perception of sound being different by color. I think "blue' won!

Well, yeah. That's why high end amps get blue LEDs.

 

[DVDdoug]

Nothing surprising and not the 1st time something like that has been done. And sometimes the suckers... uh... participants... are told that one is a tube amplifier and the other is solid state, or something like that. It reminds of me of something I noticed when taking psychology in college - Almost all psychological/behavior experiments involve deception!

Almost nobody in pro audio does blind listening or blind switching as part of their job and most have never participated in a proper-scientific blind listening test. And IMO, most mixing & mastering engineers over-estimate their hearing ability, just like most audiophiles, until they are humbled by a blind listening test.

I would have asked, "How confident are you?" When you are forced (or encouraged) to make a choice you'll probably make one.

there was much discussion among the membership, describing the audible differences between A and B.

Groupthink tends to make the bias stronger and worse.

An ABX Test doesn't have red & blue LEDs but it could be valid if "X" has a yellow LED, or something like that because A & B are identified anyway and "X" removes the bias.




P.S.
It's too bad that more of them weren't skeptical of the test and/or skeptical of their own perceptions. WE NEED MORE OF THIS! I don't expect audiophools to ever change but maybe the pros can learn!

 

[b7676]

We should expect the null set to be embarassingly imperceptible. Detecting gross and/or fine mimicry of sound isn't handled by our ears. Imagine the 'expense' if it was. Birds should be trained to these experiments. Dogs, mice, etc.

 

[Erici]

We should expect the null set to be embarassingly imperceptible. Detecting gross and/or fine mimicry of sound isn't handled by our ears. Imagine the 'expense' if it was. Birds should be trained to these experiments. Dogs, mice, etc.

But we trust our ears. After all, we don't listen to measurements!!

 

[BinkieHuckerback]

Well, Los Angeles, what did they expect...

 

[voodooless]

Obviously when the blue LED is on, MQA unfolding is enabled

 

[Blumlein 88]

The result is so common, and to those knowing much about such things exactly as expected. The value in doing this over and over is experiencing it. Experiencing it makes the idea stick much better than being told about it, or being taught what to expect.

 

[voodooless]

The result is so common, and to those knowing much about such things exactly as expected. The value in doing this over and over is experiencing it. Experiencing it makes the idea stick much better than being told about it, or being taught what to expect.

And yet I’m sure 95% of these people chose to ignore this result and went back to their old foolish ways after at best a few days

 

[ahofer]

And yet I’m sure 95% of these people chose to ignore this result and went back to their old foolish ways after at best a few days

It was the test I tell you!

 

[Erici]

It was the test I tell you!

If you don't like the result, discredit the test.
Sounds like politics!

 

[olieb]

It was the test I tell you!

Of course. 15 min in an unknown venue. Must be confusing. Back home where I know my gear I will again enjoy the shimmering silver in my signal cables with cryogenically treated cable risers.

 

[ahofer]

If you don't like the result, discredit the test.
Sounds like politics!

Exhibit A. It helps if you bore everyone to death while spouting nonsense.

 

[voodooless]

If you don't like the result, discredit the test.
Sounds like politics!

It is politics…

 

[MoreWatts]

Well, Los Angeles, what did they expect...

Please explain this comment.